SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte (PIA) -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) – Caraga is still accepting entries for this year's National Search for Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan or MMK: Search for Outstanding Coastal Community.

It aims to recognize the outstanding initiatives and contributions of coastal municipalities/cities to sustainable fisheries management.

The search has five general criteria: 1) no illegal fishing; 2) observance of closed fishing season; 3) establishment of marine protected areas; 4) clean coastal waters without domestic and industrial wastes; and 5) effective mangrove protection and rehabilitation program.

The top three regional winners will receive P2 million, P1 million, and P500 thousand worth of fisheries livelihood projects, respectively.

Also, the top three national winners will receive P30 million, P18 million, and P10 million worth of fisheries livelihood projects, respectively.

Interested local government units are advised to submit their application documents to their respective Provincial Fisheries Office. The deadline for submission of entries is on August 6, 2021.

For more details, the MMK guidelines can be downloaded via this link: bit.ly/MMKSearch2021 and feel free to contact the DA-BFAR XIII Fisheries Resource and Management Section at frm.bfarregion13@gmail.com for other queries and concerns.

The MMK is the banner program of the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources which aims to promote fisheries protection and conservation, centers on the significance of sustainably managing our fisheries and aquatic resources, and promotes stakeholder's engagement to the cause of resource protection and conservation. (DA-BFAR Caraga/VLG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)